Teamwork helps make the dream work in 2023

2023 was a year in which partnerships really helped make things happen in Derby.

This teamwork not only saw the city attract major international investments, but also supported the ongoing regeneration of our city centre.

And, not least, it helped Derby win a national competition to be the new home of Great British Railways.

Derby is at its strongest when it comes together – and thanks to public/private partnership working, involving the likes of Marketing Derby, its Bondholder community and Derby City Council, the city scored some significant wins.

It helped engage more people in the city’s regeneration story through initiatives such as the Derby City Lab.

The local food and drink sector was celebrated at the 15th Marketing Derby Food and Drink Awards, and East Midlands Chamber’s Derbyshire Business Awards saw a range of Bondholders walk away with top prizes.

As the year draws to a close, we reflect upon some of the key stories from 2023, which saw the public and private sector successfully work together for the benefit of Derby, its businesses and its people.

Derby is already home to some major international manufacturers – and in 2023, more arrived.

They included heating technology firm Vaillant and Swedish medical technology manufacturer Getinge.

Both chose to have a presence on a brand-new business park being created in Derby by St. Modwen Logistics called St. Modwen Park Derby.

Vaillant is taking space at the site to increase production of heat pumps.

Marketing Derby, together with Derby City Council and St. Modwen, worked with the team at Vaillant to secure this landmark investment.

And it was Paul Simpson, chief executive at the city council, who exclusively revealed Getinge’s investment at Marketing Derby’s Annual Business Event in February.

A major boost to the city was when Derby was announced as the new headquarters of Great British Railways.

Spearheaded by Derby City Council and supported by the local business community and Marketing Derby Bondholders, the city’s campaign saw off bids from other locations across the country.

Through its work with DEDAC (Derby Economic Development Advisory Committee), Marketing Derby supported a number of successful planning applications designed to regenerate the city.

They included plans to improve the eastern side of the city through the Eastern Gateway scheme – and Derbion’s proposal to transform the site of Bradshaw Way Retail Park, part of a wider masterplan to create hundreds of new homes in the city centre, as well as office and commercial space.

And, thanks to another partnership, the public have been given a greater say in the future regeneration of Derby, thanks to the Derby City Lab.

Since opening, the lab has been both engaging and informing its visitors about the city’s regeneration story.

In 2023, the collaboration behind the concept, which involved Marketing Derby, Derby City Council, the University of Derby, Lathams and Clowes Developments, scooped the Public/Private Partnership Award at the national EG Awards in London.

The EG Awards are organised by leading property and investment magazine Estates Gazette – and are regarded among the most prestigious awards in real estate.

The award celebrates partnerships between the public and private sector that are delivering solutions through real estate.

In winning, Derby City Lab beat off competition from entries submitted by London Brent Cross, Liverpool and Manchester.

With the backing of Derby City Council and its Bondholders, Marketing Derby has been continuing to promote Derby as a place to invest at key events such as UKREiiF and MIPIM – and at its own events, such as the Derby Property Summit and London Embassy, in partnership with businesses including Bowmer + Kirkland, Willmott Dixon, AJS Structural Design, Lovell, AtkinsRéalis (formerly Faithful + Gould), Smith Partnership, Repton School and the University of Derby, to firmly put the city on the national and international map.

Meanwhile, Marketing Derby’s digital platforms and print titles, such as Innovate Magazine, have been used to showcase the fantastic Bondholder collaborations, which underpin our vibrant community and pride in our place.

As well as celebrating business success, these platforms have also helped support the activities of the third sector, for example, helping in the push for tradespeople for a special Children in Need episode of DIY SOS featuring Treetops Hospice, to featuring Derby man Vic Handley, as he prepares to embark on an epic transatlantic rowing challenge in aid of four charities, including Derby County Community Trust, Enthusiasm Trust and Umbrella.

And they have also highlighted the excellence being achieved by our educational institutions, including the University of Derby and Derby College Group both securing gold status in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023, a national scheme run by the Office for Students.

The partnership that exists in Derby is often referred to as ‘Team Derby’.

Last year, Team Derby played a key role in the rescue of Derby County and recently, it has come together to save 180 years of train-building in the city.

Last week, Team Derby travelled to London to lobby Parliament over the situation at the Alstom factory at Litchurch Lane.

A gaping hole in the firm’s order book has left 1,300 train-building jobs – not to mention thousands more in the supply chain – in the balance.

Team Derby is battling hard to save these jobs and is calling on the Government to act now. There would be no better Christmas for the city than saving almost two centuries of train manufacturing.